Hands-On with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

One of the major announcements at IFA 2011 is yet another Samsung Galaxy Tab – the 7.7. Like the 10.1 and 8.9, the 7.7 refers to the display size, making this one of the more portable tablets on the market. Considering that many tablets are still stuck in between being truly mobile and being more of a home-based device, Samsung hopes the increased mobility of the 7.7 will be a big draw. If it isn’t, Samsung has plenty of other treats that might change your mind.

The Galaxy Tab 7.7 packs a punch in the multimedia department. It features the cutting-edge Super AMOLED Plus display technology, and runs on a 1.4 GHz dual core processor. The 7.7 has 1080p full HD playback and a built-in DivX multi codec. The device will be compatible with the HSPA+ 21 Mbps network.

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You can also use the tablet as a very large remote control in the home for your TV, set-top box, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, and AV audio system. It’s something that a lot of third party apps are starting to provide, so it’s nice to see this kind of functionality available out of the box.

Voice and video calling are possible via Wi-Fi, and promise to be crisper and clearer than earlier iterations of the Galaxy tablet line. Users will also have access to Samsung Hubs, Samsung’s own set of media stores for music, games, and eBooks. The Social Hub combines email, phone contacts, your calendar, and social networks into a single interface, where you can manage all of them easily.

The 7.7 is also running the most recent version of Android – Honeycomb 3.2. In addition to taking advantage of some of the cool 3-D features of Honeycomb, this means that all apps built for earlier iterations of Android will automatically be optimized for the Galaxy Tab 7.7’s screen, without looking distorted. The popular Samsung TouchWiz UX is also present, packing tons of customization options for your home screen.

It almost goes without saying that the 7.7 is exceptionally thin and lightweight, as has become expected of most tablets and smartphones on the market today. Specifically, the 7.7 weighs in at 12 ounces and is 7.89 mm thin. Despite this, the battery life is promised to be good for 10 hours of HD video playback time.

We got to spend some hands-on time with the Tab 7.7 and we’re quite smitten with the device. Its new ultra-thin, and lightweight design is a welcome upgrade over the previous 7″ tab. The Super AMOLED Plus display is also excellent with vivid, bright colors. We were especially wowed by how comfortable the device is too hold in your hand. It feels like the first tablet that can be comfortable to hold for reading, for long periods of time. Overall, this feels like the 7″ Android tablet that we have all been waiting for.

Keep on eye on this light, mobile juggernaut from Samsung. If portability is what you want from your tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 might be the one for you.